News

The latest in global sexual and reproductive health news

On Tuesday, Pathfinder was named the winner of the "Female Condoms Are ____" film contest organized by PATH, the Universal Access to Female Condoms Joint Programme, the Center for Health and Gender Equity, and the National Female Condom Coalition.

“Female Condoms Are My Power, My Protection, My Pleasure!” is one of nearly 30 short films from 12 countries that were submitted to the contest to describe what female condoms mean to the filmmakers and their communities and how female condoms might enhance their lives.

At Women Deliver 2013, conference attendees discuss the idea that maternal health and other gender-related issues don't only affect the lives of women, girls, and children, but also help shape the economies and societies that they live in.

Pathfinder's President Purnima Mane said while better maternal health is a moral and ethical goal in its own right, a stronger economic argument will perhaps bring more pressure to bear on governments, donors, and the private sector to follow through on their commitments. She cited Pathfinder’s SCIP project in Mozambique as an example of a cross-sectoral intervention that combines health, environment, and economic development efforts and improves accountability through close interaction with community and government leadership.

This new blog takes a look at how Pathfinder is creating demand for and providing access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services in rural South Africa.

Pathfinder has enabled six existing rural community health centers to provide additional sexual and reproductive health services, therefore preventing the necessity of long distance travel—for some. Perhaps the most impressive part of their work is the way Pathfinder ensures services are suited to youth.

New research and analysis from Pathfinder International, the University of California San Francisco Safe Motherhood Program, and PATH shows that innovative, collaborative efforts to address postpartum hemorrhage are working.

As the world tunes in for Women Deliver 2013, the UNFPA and global leaders emphasize the importance of meeting the tremendous unmet need for contraception.

Community-oriented work to change social norms around gender and enabling social and economic policies are essential to prevent early marriage, to keep girls in school, and to help women to space their births and give birth safely, when they want to bear children, said Purnima Mane, who heads Pathfinder International.

At Pathfinder International, data is a critical component of our work. Throughout the year, our team tracks the progress of our programs using a set of global indicators. We're pleased to share some of the highlights of the report below.

Purnima Mane advocates for increased family planning funding and identifies political will and a focus on community-based work as two of the most important factors in our efforts to advance the status of women and girls around the world.

Asked how best the contraceptive needs could be met, Dr. Purnima Mane, president and chief executive officer of Pathfinder International, told IPS the United Nations and the international community need to continue advocating for increased funding – domestic and international – for access to contraception and for the integration of family planning into universal health coverage in all possible forums and through broader partnerships across sectors.

Pathfinder is pleased to announce a new three-year grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation in support of crucial work in West Africa targeting the unmet need for contraception among young married adolescents in Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

Pathfinder International was recently named one of three NGOs chosen by Merck for Mothers to lead efforts to reduce maternal mortality in some of the most at-risk states in India.

MSD for Mothers recently announced the launch of its global initiative to reduce maternal mortality in India. It is partnering with three NGOs to improve the quality of healthcare received by pregnant women in India.

This week Merck for Mothers announced a new initiative to improve maternal health throughout India, naming Pathfinder as one of three nonprofit partners to carry out work to reduce maternal mortality in some of the most at-risk communities in the country.

By allying with the Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust, Pathfinder International with World Health Partners and the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood with Gram Vaani, Merck will be able to help nearly 500,000 pregnant women in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.

This Q&A with Pathfinder's Strengthening Communities Through Integrated Programming (SCIP) discusses our unique approach to providing reproductive health care in Mozambique's Nampula Province as well as successes and challenges associated with the project.

The Governor of Nampula province has welcomed the SCIP team with enthusiasm, highlighting the tremendous potential of the project to improve health conditions in communities across the 14 focus districts. He committed to “opening the doors” with key administrators and directed SCIP to work with the Unit of Coordination for Nampula Development, which coordinates between civil society partners in the province.

Pathfinder is pleased to be one of the organizations recently selected by MSD for Mothers to address maternal morbidity and mortality in India. The initiative, which was officially launched this week, targets some of the most at-risk states in India.

“We have made great strides towards Millennium Development Goal 5, but we know there’s more work to do to reach that target,” Mamta Sharma, chairperson, National Commission for Women said speaking at the India launch. “These new partnerships demonstrate innovative ways of working together to address this issue and bring India closer to our goal.”

Pathfinder International was recently named one of three NGOs chosen by Merck for Mothers to lead efforts to reduce maternal mortality in some of the most at-risk states in India.

"We are launching the programme in India as part of our global initiative. We would be investing $10 million over the next three years in this initiative," MSD India Manging Director K G Ananthakrishnan told reporters here.

MSD for Mothers' new initiative to reduce maternal mortality launched in India this week. Pathfinder is one of three nonprofits chosen to lead project activities in three of the most at-risk states in the country.

Coordinated efforts by NGOs and the private sector are necessary to take various government schemes to grass roots level and to reduce the maternal mortality rate, National Commission for Women chairperson Mamta Sharma said on Tuesday.

Pathfinder's Emeritus Advisor Judy Kahrl and Major Gift Officer Leila Percy discuss the importance of family planning in light of the Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights' recent lobbying trip to the Maine state capital.

“So many young women today don't have an idea what struggles our generation fought to secure reproductive rights,” said Judy Kahrl of Arrowsic, the founder of GRR. "Access to family planning is incredibly important. By ensuring that women and men up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level have access to effective and affordable family planning services we can save the state money by lowering the unintended pregnancy rate."

This week, MSD, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and other global health leaders announced a new public-private partnership that will increase access to contraceptive implants in some of the world’s poorest countries.

First published in The Daily Monitor, this news article discusses the gains made by Pathfinder's Integrated Family Health Program in Ethiopia and the pivotal role the project plays in achieving Millennium Development Goals.

The Technical Advisory Committee of the Integrated Family Health Program (IFHP) commended the gains achieved by the program in the North Gondar Zone of the Amahara Regional State. It also said that IFHP assumes pivotal role in achieving Millennium Development Goals of reducing child mortality rates and improving maternal health.

Pathfinder is honored to be chosen as one of the organizations in the Raise for Women Challenge. This is a unique challenge that will help raise critical funds for Pathfinder programs as well as increase visibility for Pathfinder’s work.